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Everything about Positive feedback

Loop that increases an initial effect

Positive feedback is a process that occurs in a feedback loop where the outcome of a process reinforces the inciting process to build momentum. As such, these forces can exacerbate the effects of a small disturbance. That is, the effects of a perturbation on a system include an increase in the magnitude of the perturbation. That is, A produces more of B which in turn produces more of A. In contrast, a system in which the results of a change act to reduce or counteract it has negative feedback. Both concepts play an important role in science and engineering, including biology, chemistry, and cybernetics. Wikipedia →

đź§­ Start here: a 6-step reading path

  1. Read the overview: Positive feedbackA 5-minute orientation
  2. Skim a recent paper: Positive feedback regulation of microglial glucose metabolism by histone H4 lysine 12 lactylation in Alzheimer’s diseaseInfluential work since 2022
  3. Pick up a classic book: Functional relationships among monitoring performanceThe most-reprinted book on the subject
  4. Read the landmark paper: Positive feedback in cellular control systemsCited 260 times
  5. Go sideways: FeedbackA closely related topic
  6. Go sideways: Negative feedbackA closely related topic

đź“– Definitions

Noun A situation where some function of the output of a system, process, or mechanism is fed back in a manner that tends to increase any divergence of the output from its initial value.

Noun A feedback loop in which the output of a system is amplified with a net positive gain and added to the input signal before the main amplifier.

Noun Feedback which builds upon previous feedback.

🗂️ The subject at a glance

  1. Overview
  2. Terminology
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🏆 Landmark papers (most cited)

🆕 Influential since 2022

📚 Books worth reading

Ranked by number of editions on Open Library, a rough measure of how lasting a book is.

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